Case Study: Influence Ecology Faculty Dinner with the CEO

The 2018 Annual Member Conference in Los Cabos, Mexico included a podcast episode dinner with a few members of the Influence Ecology faculty. You’ll hear Vice President Drew Knowles, Dr. Gary Ward, James Walls, Marne Power and Suzanne Pool. Five people from five different countries as they dialogue about why Influence Ecology has become their tribe and speculate on the possibilities of the future and what may be in store for education and its role in people’s lives and society. Here’s the interview.

“I would like to see Transactionalism become a predominant conversation in the mid part of the 21st century, the prevailing discourse for what it is to be human.”

John: Thank you for being here for the “Dinner with the CEO.” At the table, we have Suzanne Pool from London in the United Kingdom, we have Marne Power from Charlottesville, Virginia in the United States, we have Dr. Gary Ward from Perth, Western Australia, we have Drew Knowles from Auckland, New Zealand and we have James Walls from Singapore all seated together. We also have the unique opportunity to represent the world at the table. I hope you find that as moving as I do, given that eight years ago we said, “Hey, we should start this little thing called Influence Ecology.” With that, thank you for accepting my invitation to dinner, I appreciate it greatly.

Case Study: The Conceit of Independence

Always willing to help but never able to ask for it, Tara Collison’s journey as a student of Influence Ecology is a useful case study in the conceit of independence. She discovered that her independence was merely ego and that this view and the subsequent actions alienated others, left her exhausted, and had long-term consequences to her finances, health, and family.

Now, eager to discover more of her own flaws, warts, and vulnerabilities, she’s currently collaborating to expand her newly branded consultancy, Meddlers. As “Chief Meddler,” Tara blends her two decades of experience working in the Fortune 50 and her training as a psychologist to meddle where most are afraid to go. Here’s the interview.

Case Study: The Elements of Value

Barker Rinker Seacat Architecture designs buildings in places that bring people together. As award-winning architects, their projects are sharply differentiated from competitors, but often the final selection still won to price. Wanting to control their future, CEO Craig Bouck pursued an education in the Elements of Value.

The firm had mastered practical utility, but they haven’t yet positioned themselves as a scarce resource. They then did the hard work to deeply understand their clients’ breakdowns, which go well beyond the design of a building. And, developed specialized tools and processes that help communities overcome the complex hurdles that threaten the success of building and operating a community recreation center.